El Seat Leon it is a compact model belonging to segment C which appeared for the first time in 1999. In 2012 it premiered its third generation, receiving a restyling in 2017. Using the modular platform MQB of the Volkswagen Group, this generation does not enjoy as much sportiness as the other two previous ones but, in return, if it can boast of a greater general balance, better finishes and greater ride comfort.
We have tested this car:
Test SEAT León SC 2.0 TDI 184 CV FR, engine, driving and consumption (with video)The Spanish compact is available with three different bodies such as the 5-door Seat León that does not have a specific name, the familiar Seat León ST and the adventurous Seat León X-Perience. Both most demanded are the 5-door bodywork and the ST family. There are also sports versions under the name Seat Leon Cupra which are available with the 5-door and station wagon (ST) bodies.
Technical characteristics Seat Leon
As we said, the Seat León uses the MQB modular platform of the Volkswagen Group, also used by other similar models of the consortium such as the Audi A3 or the Volkswagen Golf.
the bodywork Seat León 5 doors has dimensions in length, by width, by height of 4.282 mm, 1.816 mm and 1.459 mm. The wheelbase is 2.636 mm. With five seats the trunk volume is 380 liters.
The family body Seat Leon ST has dimensions in length, by width, by height of 4.548 mm, 1.816 mm and 1.454 mm. The wheelbase is identical to that of the 5-door with 2.636 mm. With five seats the trunk volume is 587 liters.
The familiar and adventurous bodywork Seat Leon X-Perience It has dimensions in length, by width, by height of 4.543 mm, 1.816 mm and 1.481 mm. The wheelbase remains at 2.636 mm. As we can see, the main difference in its dimensions is the height, which is 27 mm higher in this variant. The volume for the trunk remains in the 587 liters of his brother ST.
Mechanical range and gearboxes Seat León
The Seat Leon has a wide range of mechanical versions, with three gasoline engines (not counting the 300 hp Cupra sports version), a TGI mechanical compressed natural gas, and two diesel.
in gasoline we have powers of 115, 130, 190 and 290 CV, derived from blocks 1.0 EcoTSI, 1.5 EcoTSI and 2.0 TSI liters. Not all engines are available with all body styles and trim levels.
La CNG mechanics It is a 1.5 hp 130 TGI that can also use gasoline as fuel without problems, but it reduces the boot capacity by 105 litres.
La diesel offer It consists of powers of 115, 150 and 184 hp, using a 1.6 TDI block for the less powerful version and a 2.0 TDI for the remaining two.
As for the exchange boxesDepending on the versions, we will have 5 or 6-speed manual transmissions, and DSG dual-clutch boxes with 6 or 7 relationships. Most versions use front wheel drive, except for the Seat León Cupra ST (optionally) and the X-Perience variant, which are 4×4.
Seat Leon Cupra
El Seat Leon Cupra it is offered with the bodies of 5 doors and ST. You can use a 6-speed DSG gearbox or a 6-speed manual gearbox. In the ST family body, it can also be associated with all-wheel drive, which improves its traction and dynamics. The Seat Leon Cupra uses the block 2.0 TSI engine that produces 290 hp. It is one of the sports compacts with best price-performance ratio.
Equipment Seat Leon
The Seat León can be associated with different levels of finish. We met with Reference Plus, Style, Xcellence, FR and Cupra. Except for the Cupra, they all have a possible extension called Edition that increases their equipment and adds the digital instrument panel called by SEAT, Digital Cockpit. The Xcellence and the FR are two very similar finishes in terms of the systems and technologies they offer, but they are basically distinguished by their aesthetic configuration, looking for a more elegant touch in the Xcellence and greater sportiness in the FR.
The most basic finish, Reference Plus, includes as standard elements such as dual-zone air conditioning, radio with 5-inch touch screen, electric windows, cruise control, electric adjustment of exterior mirrors, parking aid, fog lights with cornering function or rear parking sensors, among others.
The style finish It offers a pleasant aesthetic and the normal equipment that any individual usually demands in a car. However, it is true that in order to have driving aids and safety such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot presence warning or involuntary lane change alert we have to request it as optional in almost all versions.
Furthermore, in the Excellence finish, we find elements in the equipment such as 8 speakers, front and rear parking aid, parking brake, keyless-entry system, ambient lighting, or driving light assistant, among many others.
Lastly, the FR finish adds a sporty touch to the SEAT Leon, and adds elements in the equipment such as lane keeping assistant, double halogen headlights and LED daytime running lights, multifunctional sports steering wheel, light and rain sensor, among many others.
Seat Leon test video
Seat Leon according to EuroNCAP
Close to its launch dates, back in 2012, the Seat León underwent the EuroNCAP crash tests. The Spanish model of the C segment got 5 stars, so it can be described as a fairly safe car. It scored 94% for adult occupant protection, 92% for child protection, 70% for pedestrian hit and 71% for active safety.
At video below We can see the safety tests and the behavior of the Seat León before them.
Seat Leon rivals
The C segment, the compact, is one of the best sellers and, as is logical, the vast majority of brands offer a product for this category. The Seat León is among the compact generalists, so its most direct rivals are the Renault Mégane, Peugeot 308, the Opel Astra, the Hyundai i30, the Kia Cee'd and the Volkswagen Golf. All these aforementioned rivals also have family versions, which are also direct rivals to the Seat León ST.
The Seat Leon of KM0 and second hand
El Seat Leon It is the closest thing you can buy to a Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3 but at a more affordable price. The strategic positioning of Seat in the Volkswagen Group is aimed at covering the general market and that is what happens when we talk about their prices in KM0 or second hand.
The current generation of the Seat Leon is the most mature and German of all those that have been sold. However, despite the leap in technology, equipment and quality that the model has undergone, it has not been able to wash the image it was dragging. That is, to be a car for young men looking for performance and sportiness at a reasonable price.
La depreciation suffered by the Seat Leon Regarding its generalist rivals, it is not as pronounced, since it is located halfway between that of a Volkswagen Golf and an Opel Astra (from 28% to 30% approximately). This data helps you to have prices in KM0 and semi new a little above the average. In addition, the number of units that exist in the brand's dealer network is relatively high.
El price range in which he moves Seat Leon from KM0 and semi new It starts at 11.500 euros and goes up to 35.000 euros for the most performance version. These prices may be altered if the unit that we are interested in acquiring has been affected by the problem of the emissions of the EA189 engines of the Volkswagen Group, since in the future they will suffer a greater depreciation.
If we are interested in buy this second-hand model or with more kilometers we can find good prices. The reason for this is because it is a very popular model in Spain and this causes prices are lower. As a highlight of the Seat Leon we can mention its driving dynamics or reliability. As an unfavorable point we can mention a smaller than average cabin and finishes one step behind the Golf and A3.
Highlights
- Macha comfort
- Wide mechanical offer
- Price / quality ratio
Improvable points
- Few standard driving aids
- Visibility through exterior rear view mirrors
- Loading mouth too high with respect to the boot floor
Seat Leon prices
Depending on the brand's configurator, for $16.750 we can buy a Seat León 5 doors 1.0 TSI 115 CV in Reference finish, this being the cheaper version of the entire range. On the opposite side, not counting the Cupra model, the more expensive variant It is the Seat Leon 1.5 TGI 130 CV with automatic transmission DSG and that uses natural gas combined with gasoline as fuel. Its price is 28.090 euros.
Una balanced option would be the purchase of the Seat Leon 5 doors in version Style and 1.5CV 130 EcoTSI engine, which would cost, according to the brand's configurator, a little less than $19.000. Investing about 1.000 euros more in equipment, we would take the Style VISIO version, which includes a reversing camera, Full Link, lane keeping assistant, automatic high beams, fatigue detector and front and rear parking sensors. Same unit but equipping the 1.6 hp 115 TDI engine would cost about 1.900 euros more.
Image gallery Seat Leon
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